Is Drake a Savior of Hip Hop?

Written by: Black Root

Toronto-native Aubrey “Drake” Graham has been given the ultimate responsibility in the form of cliché: “You are the savior of Hip-Hop, aren’t you?”

In order to save something, it either needs to be in danger, remembered, or attached to a bank statement. Hip-Hop is not a monolithic vessel. Hip-Hop is not the Nebuchadnezzar. Salvaging one ship doesn’t save the fleet. Especially not now that Auto-tune and ring-tone sales are at an all-time high. Using the MatriX analogy, however, exposes one truth: even if Drake can be equated with Neo (loosely because I refuse to compare Drake to any savior) there have been several versatile emcees who have laid the groundwork for folks to frame their faces and fantasize of a Hip-Hop hero in the form of a red pill. I’m sorry, a maple leaf? Without the unwavering faith of Morpheus and guidance from The Oracle, would Neo have ever mastered and truly understood his path? Point being, even agents of change need other chemical and/or lyrical components/contributors to form a significant difference in a culture where major labels have restricted quality creativity in an attempt to overrun their listeners with stinky limbs and swagger surfing on a Swizz beat.

I’m going to say something that many purists of Hip-Hop might dislike. I like Drake as an artist. Let me explain… I know his most popular cuts aren’t heavy on lyrically conscious content, but every artist shouldn’t be the same. If they were, we would be lacking, say it with me now… BALANCE. Unfortunately, due to the lack of general balance in music videos, radio stations, print media, and the internet, the current Drake, in my opinion, has the potential to offer us more of the same: misogyny, but he’s a little cleaner… hood antics, but a little more antiseptic… a little Kanye with less conceit… Maybe he’s Lil’ Wayne with a lil’ less melanin?

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http://etmmagazine.info/freeyourmind/2009/08/articles/2009_08_drakeisnot.html